Baghdad- The Iraqi government expelled the Swedish ambassador and recalled its diplomatic staff from Stockholm on 20 July over the Nordic nation’s “repeated permission for the burning of the holy Quran, insulting Islamic sanctities and the burning of the Iraqi flag.”
Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani “instructed the Swedish ambassador in Baghdad to leave Iraqi territory,” his office said in a statement.
The decision followed a warning Baghdad issued to Sweden saying it would sever diplomatic relations if another Quran-burning incident were to take place.
Hours earlier, the Swedish embassy in Baghdad was set on fire by supporters of popular Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.
According to a statement by the office of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Baghdad “informed the Swedish government … that any recurrence of the incident involving the burning of the Holy Quran on Swedish soil would necessitate severing diplomatic relations.”
The embassy storming came in protest against a Swedish police decision to approve a public demonstration outside of the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm on Thursday, where demonstrators plan to burn a copy of the Quran and the Iraqi flag.
The Iraqi statement also strongly condemned the embassy storming as “a serious security breach requiring immediate action” and says Sudani held an emergency meeting over the matter, adding that individuals have been arrested and will be transferred to the Iraqi judiciary.
Sweden’s Foreign Minister, Tobias Billstrom, said that all embassy staff were safe but that Baghdad “failed in its duty to protect the embassy.”
The embassy storming was “completely unacceptable, and the government strongly condemns these attacks,” adding that Sweden “is in contact with high-level Iraqi representatives to express our dismay.”
Al-Sadr is a controversial Shia cleric and leader of the Sadrist Movement. The Sadrists – who fought US occupation forces following the 2003 invasion – are the center of much controversy in the country.
Sadr is known to be critical of both Washington and Iran.
According to Swedish media, Salwan Momika organized the new Quran burning. Momika is an Iraqi refugee who last month drew worldwide condemnation when he defaced and burned a copy of the Quran outside Stockholm’s biggest mosque on the day millions of Muslims celebrated Eid al-Adha.
Momika was previously a member of several Iraqi paramilitary groups and faces criminal charges in Iraq. Baghdad has begun legal proceedings to officially demand his extradition.
Last week, Iran accused Momika of being an agent for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, claiming he had played “a major role” in espionage activity targeting Iran-backed resistance movements in Iraq and requesting residency in Sweden in exchange for working with the Mossad.
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